Kratos prepares Chaparral for production
Elroy Air’s autonomous cargo aircraft will enter manufacturing at Kratos’ Sacramento facility, with first production units planned for late 2026.
Elroy Air is moving Chaparral from aircraft development into production.
Kratos will manufacture the autonomous cargo aircraft at its expanded Sacramento facility, with first production aircraft planned for late 2026.
The programme is expected to add more than 50 jobs, taking Kratos’ local workforce above 500.
The current Chaparral configuration is designed to carry more than 500 lb for up to 450 miles without conventional airport infrastructure, targeting commercial logistics, emergency response and military resupply.
Kratos was selected as Elroy Air’s exclusive US manufacturing partner under a five-year agreement last year. The new announcement marks the move from selecting a manufacturer to preparing the factory and workforce for production.
Elroy reports a demand pipeline above 1,400 aircraft, representing more than $5 billion in potential opportunities.
The company has also completed its first autonomous point-to-point cargo delivery and agreed a proposed $200 million manufacturing and services joint venture in Abu Dhabi for the Middle East and North Africa.
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